We could happily survive on eggs forever.

As an ingredient, they have more uses than almost any other food stuff.

You’d be forgiven for thinking they’re a simple thing to get right, but as good as Cork’s café’s and restaurants are generally, there’s still a few bad eggs on some menus.

Not to worry though, we went out and did the sorting for you, eating our way around egg dishes all over the city and county.

It’s tough work, but someone has to do it.

Today we’re talkin’ omelettes, Eggs Benny, scrambled, fried and poached. Spicy shakshuka; creamy avocado eggs; baked eggs and Florentine. We might even say bonjour to a Croque Madame.

These are the best eggs in Cork; the dishes our (finicky) team of testers wake up craving on a Saturday, the ones that’ll cure a hangover faster than you can slice that gooey yolk open.

Bon appetit…

1. Good for the Soul

Ballincollig

The order: Check out the specials board for dishes like this one; tenderstem broccoli with garlicky spinach and peanuts, served on Arbutus sourdough toast, topped with two organic poached eggs and a soy sauce reduction. Drool.

2. The Farmgate Café

The English Market, Cork

The order: Pan fried haddock, a smoked haddock fishcake and a poached egg served with wilted spinach and hollandaise.

3. Perry Street Market

Perry Street, Cork

The order: Perry Street Eggs Benedict served on home baked soda bread with cripsy smoked rashers and perfectly cooked free range eggs.

4. Ali’s Kitchen

Rory Gallagher Place, Cork

The order: Ali’s version of a steak sandwich, this fried eggs arrives on sizzling steak strips and bread for dipping in your gooey yolk.

5. Glebe Gardens

Skibbereen

The order: Looking for a hearty brunch down West? The Glebe Gardens specials menu is where we found this duck, potato and cabbage hash, topped with a fried egg.

6. Seasalt

Cobh

The order: Two organic poached eggs and smoked salmon on sourdough with hollandaise. If the Croque Madame is on the specials menu, cancel all your plans and order that instead.

7. ORSO

Pembroke Street, Cork

The order: Shakshuka: This North African brunch of poached eggs in a hearty, spiced tomato, pepper and black bean sauce will keep you going all day.

8. St Francis Provisions

Kinsale

The order: The egg sandwich at Kinsale’s coolest new eatery involves a six-minute organic egg on an Arbutus brioche bun, with horizon leaves, soft herbs and house pickled beets from Jason in The Market Garden.

9. The River Lee Hotel

Western Road, Cork

The order: Fresh sliced tomato and avocado, artfully arranged on a warm toasted muffin and topped with poached eggs, chilli flakes and hollandaise sauce.

10. OHK Cafe

Kinsale

The order: A soft boiled egg with anchovy on toast. Simple and delicious.